Patentable/Patents/US-10979671
US-10979671

Internet communication system that modifies users' perceptions based on their proximity within a virtual space

PublishedApril 13, 2021
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A system is provided having a computer, a user device, a presenter device having an audio source and a video source, the user device having speakers and a screen for displaying transmitted video data, in an area having a first size, at least one virtual distance assigned between the user device and the presenter device, the screen displaying a user device icon and a presenter device icon with an indication of the virtual distance, a user command to modify the virtual distance, the screen displaying an updated indication of the virtual distance, the speakers playing the transmitted audio data at a second volume based on the change in the virtual distance, and the screen displaying the transmitted video data in an area of a second size based on the change in the virtual distance.

Patent Claims
16 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A system for controlling the communication of audiovisual conference data, comprising: a computer; a user device in data communication with said computer; at least one presenter device in data communication with said computer having an audio source for transmitting audio data and a video source for transmitting video data; the user device having speakers for playing the transmitted audio data at a first volume and a screen for displaying transmitted video data, the transmitted video data from different presenter devices being displayed in different areas of said screen, each area having a first size; at least one virtual distance assigned between the user device and each of the at least one presenter devices; the screen displaying a user device icon and at least one presenter device icon corresponding to each of the presenter devices with an indication of the virtual distance between the user device and at least one of the presenter devices; the user device having an input device for inputting a user command to modify the virtual distance between the user device at least one of the at least one presenter devices; the modification of the virtual distance being transmitted to the at least one presenter device based on the user command; the screen displaying an updated indication of the virtual distance between the user device and at least one of the presenter devices; the speakers playing the transmitted audio data from at least one of the presenter devices at a second volume based on the change in the virtual distance between the user device and at least one of the presenter devices; the screen displaying the transmitted video data from at least one of the presenter devices in an area of a second size based on the change in the virtual distance between the user device and at least one of the presenter devices.

2

2. The system of claim 1 , the user device and the at least one presenter device having a peer to peer connection.

3

3. The system of claim 1 , comprising: the user device having audio source for transmitting audio data and a video source for transmitting video data; the presenter device having speakers for playing the transmitted audio data from the user device and a screen for displaying transmitted video data, the transmitted video data from the user device; the size of the video displayed on the presenter device's screen being determined based on the virtual distance; the volume of the audio played on the presenter device's speakers being determined based on the virtual distance.

4

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the size of the video displayed on the user device from a single presenter device and the size of the video corresponding to that presenter device displayed on the user device are approximately equal.

5

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the volume of the audio played on the user device from a single presenter device and the volume of the audio corresponding to that presenter device played on the user device are approximately equal.

6

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the size of the video displayed on the user device from a single presenter device and the size of the video corresponding to that presenter device displayed on the user device are determined according to predetermined rules taking into account the virtual distance.

7

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the volume of the audio played on the user device from a single presenter device and the volume of the audio corresponding to that presenter device played on the user device are determined according to predetermined rules taking into account the virtual distance.

8

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising a threshold distance that, when the virtual distance exceeds the threshold distance, the video from the presenter device is no longer displayed.

9

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein when the threshold distance is exceeded by the virtual distance, the video data is no longer transmitted for display on the user device.

10

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising a threshold distance that, when the virtual distance exceeds the threshold distance, the audio from the presenter device is no longer played.

11

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein when the threshold distance is exceeded by the virtual distance, the audio data is no longer transmitted for display on the user device.

12

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual distance is based on virtual locations of the user device and the at least one presenter device.

13

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the user device and the presenter device are each assigned virtual locations, and the user command modifies the user device's virtual location, which in turn modifies the virtual distance between the user device and the presenter device.

14

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the virtual locations are on a one dimensional line.

15

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the virtual locations are in a two or three dimensional space.

16

16. A system for controlling the communication of audiovisual conference data, comprising: a computer; a user device in data communication with said computer having speakers for playing the transmitted audio data and a screen for displaying transmitted video data; at least one presenter device in data communication with said computer having an audio source for transmitting audio data and a video source for transmitting video data; a database of files representing conferences, the database being in data communication with said computer; each file representing a conference including transmitted audio data and transmitted video data from at least one presenter device; at least one virtual distance assigned between the user device and each of the at least one presenter devices; the user device having an input for modifying the at least one virtual distance; the computer routing the audio data and the video data from each of the at least one presenter devices to the user device based on the virtual distance.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

September 24, 2020

Publication Date

April 13, 2021

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Cite as: Patentable. “Internet communication system that modifies users' perceptions based on their proximity within a virtual space” (US-10979671). https://patentable.app/patents/US-10979671

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